Julie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. She teaches undergraduate Nutrition at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California where she spearheaded the curriculum change to be weight neutral and to focus on intuitive eating. Julie also maintains a family nutrition practice where she practices a non-diet approach to counseling and encourages her clients to find satisfaction in eating. She believes strongly in the power of family meals and her goal is to help parents navigate mealtime without stress or guilt. Before working in family nutrition, Julie held many roles at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System including serving as the diabetes dietitian. In addition to her career in Nutrition, Julie taught group exercise classes for 20 years. Julie lives in Southern California with her husband and two girls. 

• Earned a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
• Completed an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation.
• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Completes continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

The “RD” credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Some RDs may call themselves “nutritionists,” but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The definition and requirements for the term “nutritionist” vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation “nutritionist,” but in other states, virtually anyone can call him- or herself a “nutritionist” regardless of education or training.

Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor’s degree (about half of RDs hold advanced degrees), completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination — in addition to maintaining continuing education requirements for recertification.”